Driver's Seat: The future of auto engines is not Grandpa’s big V8

Our government wants to see better fuel economy out of the cars on our roads. Automakers are slowly beginning to respond, as even more stringent fuel economy standards loom.

Automakers from around the world are taking notice, with more fuel-efficient engines in cars usually not known for fuel economy. But drivers still love their big engines, so what’s going to win out? Fuel economy or power?

BMW has a new engine that shows it’s not necessarily an either-or question. The engine is a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder powerplant in the new 328i sedan that produces 240 horsepower. That’s also the engine that powers the more expensive 528i sedan.

When coupled with the standard eight-speed automatic transmission, what’s impressive about the new 328i sedan’s engine is the gas mileage: 23 miles per gallon in the city and a whopping 33 mpg on the highway. I averaged better than 33 miles per gallon in a test of combined driving, and I don’t think I’ve ever driven a BMW that delivered better fuel economy.

What’s unsettling is this: To obtain this great fuel mileage, the new 328i sedan’s engine turns itself off at stop lights. That’s right, it stops working, takes a rest, and doesn’t restart until you step on the accelerator. That’s going to take a lot of getting used to, and I found it nerve-racking.

Everything else about the new 328i sedan is pure BMW, including the options you can add. The base price of the 2012 328i sedan is $35,795, but the test car had about $15,000 worth of options ladled on to bring the final price tag to $50,245. Options included things like a navigation system, premium Harman Kardon surround sound, a rear-view camera, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The test car also was adorned with BMW’s “modern line” option package that included 18-inch alloy wheels and a wood-trim package inside that BMW calls “Fineline Pure.”

Now for the other side of the story: If you’re looking to see engines from the past that may or may not be around much longer, look no further than the 2012 Jaguar XF sedan. It’s powered by a more traditional, 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 385 horsepower.

Coupled with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, the Jaguar XF’s mileage just isn’t very good, especially when compared with the smaller BMW: 16 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, and I averaged toward the bottom end of that range in a test of combined driving.

The car accelerates briskly, as a car with a base price of nearly $60,000 should. And it’s a sleek-looking ride, especially when painted in Jaguar’s “Lunar Gray” paint.

The test XF was equipped with Jaguar’s “Portfolio” package, which added $6,000 worth of stuff over the base XF. Also added to the test car were options including a heated steering wheel (heated and cooled front seats are standard), 19-inch wheels, an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins 1,200-watt sound system, and adaptive cruise control.

The total price of the Jaguar XF Portfolio sedan was $68,700.

BMW appears to have seen the future (at least, the future of tougher U.S. fuel mileage standards) and responded with the new engine that powers the 328i sedan. And it’s a bearable, drivable future. Jaguar hasn’t seen the future yet – at least with some of its current offerings – and is content to offer V8 engine choices that may not be available in a few years.